Diabetes is on the rise among young people in the United States, with significant increases in type 1 and type 2 diabetes diagnoses.  The consequences of this trend are alarming, as diabetes-related retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in adults aged 20 to 74, is appearing earlier and with greater frequency in these younger populations. Without proper education, prevention, and care, millions more could face the devastating impact of vision loss.

Dr Gregory Carnevale, MD, Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare talks about this rise in diabetes among the young population and a new UHC initiative, Eye Health Education and Systems of Care for Young Persons with Diabetes.  

We discussed the types of diabetes including Type 1, Type 2 and gestational, their diagnosis and the ramifications of untreated or uncontrolled diabetes.  We discussed prevention and how your genes, weight, exercise and food choices can affect your chances of developing disease and we spoke about the current wide-spread use of weight-loss drugs designed for diabetes glucose control.  

He explained the impact of diabetes on the renal and cardiovascular systems and how that increases your danger for vision loss.  He described the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy and the need for dilated eye exam, the sooner the better, especially with young patients. 

For more information about the new initiative go to UHC.com/diabetes or visit preventblindness.org.